How life has changed in Monmouthshire

Monmouthshire's population increased by about 6,400 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 91,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Monmouthshire increased by 7.6%, from almost 84,900 to 91,300.

The addition of just over 6,400 people means this area's population was the third-fastest-growing in Wales, while Monmouthshire became the sixth-least populous local authority area in the country.

In 2011, Monmouthshire was home to, on average, 0.77 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Monmouthshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Monmouthshire increased by four years, from 41 to 45 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than Shropshire (one of the most statistically similar areas to Monmouthshire based on ONS area classifications) (44 years of age) and the third-highest average age in Wales.

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,500 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 14.0% of people in Monmouthshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Newport and Monmouthshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Welsh language in Monmouthshire

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Monmouthshire increased from 9.0% to 9.9% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

This was the largest increase in the proportion of Welsh speakers of any local authority area in the country. The next largest increase was seen in Caerphilly (from 10.9% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011), while Carmarthenshire saw the largest decline (from 50.1% to 43.9%).

There are 1,352 more people living in Monmouthshire who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 4,906.

In Newport (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Monmouthshire), 9.3% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, down from 9.6% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 20.5% to 19.0%.

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was lower than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health fell in Monmouthshire, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Wales.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across Wales saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 12.5% to 7.6%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 17 (5.9%) in Monmouthshire said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 9.5% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 68.6% to 80.1%.

Cardiff saw Wales' next largest rise in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad (from 10.2% to 6.4%).

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Monmouthshire decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Monmouthshire, Newport and Wales said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Monmouthshire

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership increased in Monmouthshire, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Wales, except Powys.

During this period, Monmouthshire fell below to become the Wales local authority area with the lowest percentage of single people.

In 2011, just over one in four (26.3%) people aged 16 and over in Monmouthshire said they were single, compared with 22.9% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 58.3% to 54.3%.

Wales' largest decrease in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership occurred in Powys (from 25.1% to 28.2%).

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

Monmouthshire saw Wales' largest rise in the proportion of self-employed people.

During this period, Monmouthshire overtook Conwy to become the Wales local authority area with the fifth-highest percentage of self-employed people.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12.0%) people aged 16 to 74 in Monmouthshire said they were self-employed, compared with 10.5% in 2001. The percentage that were employed remained close to 50.8%.

Merthyr Tydfil saw Wales' next largest rise in the proportion of self-employed people (from 4.3% to 5.7%).

The rate of self-employment was higher than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Disability in Monmouthshire

Monmouthshire saw Wales' largest fall in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (87.4%) in Monmouthshire reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities, compared with 88.7% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.5% to 4.4%.

Cardiff saw Wales' next largest rise in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 89.8% to 89.9%).

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Monmouthshire residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.2% to 1.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care grew at the third fastest rate of all local authority districts across Wales. As a result, this area had the country's sixth lowest proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care and the lowest proportion of homeowners.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Monmouthshire remained close to 1.6%

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Newport and Monmouthshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Monmouthshire

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Monmouthshire was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.8 points.

In 2011, 30.9% of respondents in Monmouthshire gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 18.1% of those who answered in 2001.

Across Wales, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 20.2% to 34.7%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Monmouthshire, 67.7% said they were Christian, compared with 81.1% in 2001. About 0.5% said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, compared with 0.2% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Buddhist increased from 0.2% to 0.3%.

In Monmouthshire, 7.7% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.8% in 2001. Across Wales, 7.6% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 8.1% in 2001. Across England, 7.6% of people did not answer, compared with 8.1% in 2001.

The population that said they had no religion in Monmouthshire increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in Wales, Newport and Monmouthshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Monmouthshire, but at a slower rate than in nearby Newport.

In Monmouthshire, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.5% in 2001 to 10.8% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Newport increased from 5.4% to 14.0%.

Across Wales, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 14.1%.

The rate of social housing in Monmouthshire fell from 14.7% to 13.8%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 75.9% to 73.6%.

Private renting in Monmouthshire increased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Monmouthshire, Newport and Wales that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Monmouthshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15.0% to 12.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to nearby Newport (which remained close 8.3%). Across Wales, the proportion fell from 12.0% to 9.3%.

Long hour working in Monmouthshire decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Monmouthshire, Newport and Wales that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Monmouthshire, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 6.8% to 8.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (27.7%) households had only one person, compared with 27.1% in 2001. The percentage of households in Monmouthshire which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 42.5% to 38.5%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to nearby Newport (which remained close 9.4%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 7.5% to 9.7%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Monmouthshire increased by 2.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Monmouthshire, Newport and Wales that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with adult children living with their parents

The percentage of households in Monmouthshire with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.0% to 10.1% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (27.8%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 29.9% in 2001. The percentage of households in Monmouthshire without children increased from 61.0% to 62.1%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to nearby Newport (which remained close 10.3%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 10.2% to 10.7%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across Wales

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

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